High school basketball: Washington’s top 25 boys recruits

Kevin Cacabelos is a freelance writer from Seattle and the sports editor of the Los Angeles Loyolan, the student newspaper of Loyola Marymount University. This is his sixth year of ranking high-school boys basketball players from Washington.

For the sixth year in a row, I gathered input from high-school players, coaches, scouting reports and my own observations to rank the top 25 prep basketball players in the state of Washington. Eight of last year’s top ten players have moved on since graduation, while last year’s No. 3 player, senior guard Ahmaad Rorie, transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida.

The prep basketball talent in the state this year is high, and senior guard David Crisp from Rainer Beach is the sole player ranked in the top 25 without reported scholarship offers.

Rankings are based on this criteria:
1) Potential to play and perform at the Division 1 level of college basketball
2) Current performance at the high-school level

Rainier Beach’s Shaqquan Aaron drives to the basket in a game last season.Erika Schultz / Seattle Times staff

1. Shaqquan Aaron (Sr.) – Rainier Beach, F, 6-foot-7: Aaron takes over the No. 1 spot after the graduation of Zach Lavine. Aaron is a long, athletic wing player with a knack for scoring. Committed: Louisville.

2. Donaven Dorsey (Sr.) – Timberline of Lacey, F, 6-6: Dorsey is a smooth, athletic small forward. Like Aaron, he can put the ball on the floor and penetrate for an easy bucket. Dorsey’s shooting ability and three-point range make him tough to cover for most opposing defenses. Committed: Washington

3. Jason Todd (Sr.) – Jackson of Mill Creek, G, 6-5: The reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year averaged 21.4 points and 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game for Jackson last season. He is a versatile player whose motor never stops running. Committed: Portland.

4. Tramaine Isabell (Sr.) – Garfield, G, 6-1: Isabell is a treat to watch. He’s a score-first point guard who is relentless at attacking the basket. Isabell’s variety of moves and burst of speed make for a lethal combination. Committed: Washington St.

5. Dejounte Murray (Jr.) – Rainier Beach, G/F, 6-4: Murray is an intriguing prospect with a quick first step and sneaky athleticism. His long arms and scoring ability make him a high-level prospect. Expect his recruitment to heat up significantly this season. Offers: Washington, Oregon, California, Boise State, Washington State, Gonzaga.

6. Josh Martin (Sr.)- Bothell, F, 6-7: Martin is the most electric player in the state. Blessed with freakish athleticism, Martin can finish around the rim with a variety of dunks. Martin also has range that extends to the three-point line. Committed: Minnesota

7. D’juan Piper (Sr.) – Rainier Beach, F, 6-6: The bouncy athletic wing is effective on both ends of the court for the back-to-back state champions. Piper has a nice frame with long arms to help him disrupt passing lanes. He is great at finishing in transition. Offers: Oregon, Oregon St., Richmond, USC, Washington St.

8. Isiah Brown (So.) – Lakeside of Seattle, G, 6-1: Brown is an exceptional ball-handler with solid vision in the open court. He is comfortable at penetrating and scoring off of the dribble. Offers: Washington

10. JaQuori McLaughlin (So.) – Peninsula of Gig Harbor, G, 6-3: The shooting guard is an athlete with an advanced mid-range game. He can shoot it off the dribble and also has three-point range. Committed: Oregon St.

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Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.